Guest Post/ Grandparenting a Child with Special Needs

I put my mother on the spot a couple of days ago and asked her to write a post for me. If you haven't already read 'How Do Grandparents of ASD Children Feel?', please click on the link and do so.


Before reading her words, however, I want you to know the first year of Cody's life was hard. Cody was born with multiple birth defects and we spent a great deal of time either in doctor's offices or in and out of hospitals. If it weren't for my mother, I could have never made it through that first year. She was by my side every step of the way. Years later, my mom even flew to Oregon twice within a six month period to take care of my younger children while Cody fought for his life in PICU.


From my point of view, grandparents play a significant role in raising a child with disabilities. My mother is an incredible person and I am happy that she wrote the following guest post:

Having Cody for a grandson has been an awesome experience. I can honestly say I would not want Cody to be any different than he is. He is truly a gift from heaven.

Everyone who has the opportunity to know Cody finds out what a great personality he has. I’m sure they will never forget him.

With that said, I have to say it has been hard at times to see my daughter, Cody’s mom, go through some very difficult times with Cody, most of them medical. I marvel at how amazingly strong she has become in facing these struggles.

Cody was my first grandchild. I didn’t have a preconceived idea what a grandchild should or shouldn’t be. I was never disappointed he was born different. My greatest worry has always been whether he is healthy or not.

I love Cody the same as all my grandchildren, we just have a different relationship and bond. I was privileged to be a big part of Cody’s first year. He loves his grandma, and grandma loves him!!

This is What Happens When Cody and His Dad Pair Up

Cody has a Speak and Spell. For those of you who may not know what a Speak and Spell is, here's a picture...

The Speak and Spell is very educational but awfully LOUD. Cody thinks it's hilarious to ask if he can sleep with it. I always tell him "No. If you accidentally turn it on during the night, it will wake everybody up." His dad, on the other hand, jokingly goes behind my back and tells Cody "Go ahead Code. I don't care if you sleep with it." knowing full well that Cody won't go against my wishes.

Night before last, we went through the aforementioned ritual, but this time, when I wasn't around, Don told Cody to go hide the Speak and Spell in his bedroom, under his pillow. Later on, I walked by Cody's room and this is what I saw...

The Speak and Spell was indeed under the pillow, but I think maybe Don needs to work with Cody on hiding things a little more discreetly. :)


Click on Hide and Seek the Autistic Way if you'd like to read more about Cody and hiding.

Water Park Mishap with a Special Needs Child

Don taught Cody, our son with special needs, to swim when he was around 4 years old by having him hold on to his back. They looked kinda like this (only in water)...




Swimming with our children and teaching them to be comfortable in water was important to Don and I. When they were younger, we would frequent this indoor water park, Splash!...




The facility had a wave pool and a nice water slide. We loved it.



Cody was around ten years old when Don and I decided we should let him go down the slide by himself. After all, if one of us took him to the top and the other one waited for him at the bottom, nothing could possibly go wrong, right?


Wrong. Cody got to the second big turn going down the slide and almost flew out. He was too light. In fact, the only thing that saved Cody was the fact that the water didn't quite lubricate the side of the slide and he got stuck. Cody just sat there.

Panicking, I ran past everyone in line and up to the platform where Don and the lifeguard stood. Don and I began yelling "Scoot Cody! Scoot! Scoot!" We looked something like this, except I was hysterical (and I don't mean funny)...




Cody "scooted" until he was back in the flowing water. He went on down the slide, oblivious to the fact that he was ever in danger.


To this day, I prefer enclosed water slides.




The pictures of 'Splash!' belong to Paul Lane. Our family is not in any of them, but the facility is the same.

Braille Superstore

While browsing the Internet today, I came across The Braille Superstore.

This website has books, toys, games, greeting cards, talking clocks/watches and more.

If you know someone who is visually impaired, you may want to visit http://www.braillebookstore.com/. Especially with Christmas just around the corner!

Indecent Exposure

People with disabilities can be quite entertaining and I mean this in the nicest way.

When Cody (my son) was about 8 years old and attending Oregon School for the Blind, he gave his dorm leaders quite a laugh. One morning they were trying to get the students out of bed, dressed and groomed, and to the cafeteria for breakfast. Each student has an I.E.P. with goals unique to the individual. One of Cody's goals was to dress himself. Cody proceeded to undress, but didn't put any clothes on. Because the other students couldn't see his nudity, the dorm leaders decided to see just how far Cody would go without being prompted to dress. They kept asking him, "Cody, did you forget anything?" and he kept replying, "No."! He made it all the way to the door before they stopped him and made him put something on. He would have gone out in the cold weather nude!